Your turn ? April 2, 2010

With due respect to another teacher, I strongly disagree with the content and conclusions of Paul K. Davis' Monday letter, “Plan ‘cannot work.' ”

Government functions are not often “efficient or cost-effective,” because they are providing services that don't have the purpose of making a profit for shareholders or generating attractive bottom lines for future investors. Government provides services businesses won't because they don't make a profit, i.e., health care for those who cannot pay, education for people who cannot pay, a retirement plan (Social Security), waging war, etc.

These plans are not “efficient or cost-effective.” They don't produce a profit, which is the function of business. I may not have learned a lot from history, but I do know government and business are not and cannot be measured by the same tools.

The U.S. hasn't been the most powerful and respected nation on earth for more than 80 years because its programs are efficient and cost-effective. We are the envy of a majority of the world's people because we provide services, safety and opportunities most nations do not, because they do not respect the value of each individual and fail to provide services that confirm that value to all their citizens.

I like San Antonio and Texas better than most of the many places I have seen. I like generally well-lit streets with no potholes, neighborhood schools with enough good teachers, regular trash pick-up, clean drinking water, nonpolluting sewage treatment, numerous parks and libraries and a lot of other benefits. I know taxes are necessary to pay for these services. I guess this makes me a liberal.

As a liberal, I was disappointed with the gubernatorial primaries when the few who voted chose two tax-cutters. Both said they are proud to have cut taxes and promise to cut more.

Maybe voters can't see the impact of tax cuts. Which will we do first? Close neighborhood schools and fire teachers? Fix the streets next year or now? Close parks and cut library hours? Cut back police, fire and utility services? Stop flood control projects? Let highways, bridges and railroads deteriorate further?

Tax cuts might save a family enough to spend a night at the rodeo, Fiesta or a ballgame. It's instant gratification, but what will your kids think in a few years when they look back and see you voted for a tax cut or a subsidy for a new sports arena to subsidize millionaires instead of new schools, teacher raises and upgrading public utilities.

I have my priorities, and it looks like the few voters who vote have theirs. We are activists. Does everyone else not care?

Carl Lahser

Mirroring tea partiers

I had to chuckle at Ron Lowe's Tuesday letter which expressed his concern about the “violence and angry rhetoric” of the “dangerous and out-of-control mob of white folk radicals” who make up the tea parties. Ron, listen to yourself! Your comments are as bad as anything they might have said. Just because you don't agree with the tea partiers, you're sophomorically attacking them.

What exactly do you mean by your “white folk” comment? I'm sure I've seen blacks, Hispanics and other nonwhites at the televised tea parties. You sound racist and misinformed yourself. I would say most tea party complaints are more about the out-of-control spending of Obama, not just his health care fiasco.

It appears Ron Lowe is calling the tea partiers “angry frustrated white folks, extremists, a dangerous and out-of-control mob of radicals, a force of racists and crazier elements of society,” while noting there is nothing patriotic about attacking those with different views. Would that mean Lowe is unpatriotic? He seems to be attacking those who have differing views.

Unless, of course, he was talking about those crazy folks writing on the sidewalk.

William Gallagher

Tea party hypocrites

For people who despise the media, the tea partiers surely get the lion's share of coverage and love every minute of it. What hypocrites!

Fran Stelzriede

Power-hungry pols

Many readers appear to be perplexed that the health care bill was passed in spite of polling that indicated a majority of Americans oppose it. Understand that politicians don't really care about the health care of the average citizen. This bill is merely a vehicle for them to acquire and maintain power, i.e. get elected or re-elected.

The goal of this bill is to increase the number of people on government entitlements. (See George Will's March 24 column.)

Most folks who depend on these massive entitlements vote Democratic because they hand out the most goodies. Republicans are guilty too, but the D's own the franchise. Hence, public opinion concerning health care legislation is immaterial.

Opponents of the health care bill that was recently voted into law have repeatedly asserted that the Democrats in Congress were not listening to the American people. Sammy Scrivano (Letters, March 24) indicated that the liberals in Congress did not listen to the people on health care. He stated several opinions with no facts to support them.

All Americans did not oppose the proposed health care reform. Members of Congress heard but did not respond to the yelling, name-calling and hateful actions of many Americans. They did listen to the people who expressed their desires for reform civilly in person, phone calls and e-mails.

Conservatives should remember that elections have consequences. The elections of the early 2000s led to two wars, a financial meltdown and a huge deficit. Democrats won in 2008 and should be allowed to address the problems they inherited and work for change.

Thanks to those in Congress who backed health-care reform.

Etta Tricksey

E-N's bias not leftist

Some readers think this paper is biased toward the Democrats and that somehow it favors the health care bill just passed. A letter-writer against health-care reform even hinted that his letter would not be printed. How can they be biased toward Democrats and the health-care bill when they endorse Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who calls everything Democratic “socialism”?

Where would someone get the notion the Express-News is biased toward Barack Obama when they endorse John Cornyn, an obstructionist, and Lamar Smith, a spokesman for insurance companies?

Mr. Fayard should hear how much money the U.S. sends Israel each year. According to the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, an estimated $2.42 billion in direct U.S. aid went to Israel in 2008.

That kind of support should give the U.S. some voice.

J. E. McFarland

Kerrville

A shot back at census

Re: “Census chief chides dawdling Texans” (Metro, Wednesday):

Having not received a questionnaire or any correspondence from the Census Bureau, a “back at you” chide is appropriate.

When I called the local census office last week I was transferred to the Dallas office. The lady who took my call asked me to wait until April 12. If by then I haven't got a questionnaire, I am to call back to the Dallas office.

Gee, I wonder if that has anything to do with the low return rate referenced in your story?